A friend of mine told me he has to use a floating clamp for fan pattern rackets.
Is that true?

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Neither are Godd for fan patterns as both are fixed (glide bars are perpendicular and flying flames always clamp with a fixed spread) and the distance between fan strings is not at the same angle or width apart..

Neither are Godd for fan patterns as both are fixed (glide bars are perpendicular and flying flames always clamp with a fixed spread) and the distance between fan strings is not at the same angle or width apart..

Neither are Godd for fan patterns as both are fixed (glide bars are perpendicular and flying flames always clamp with a fixed spread) and the distance between fan strings is not at the same angle or width apart..

It funny that Ektelon which made the glide bar machines standard, is a Racquetball company. Though early racquetball racquets were predominantly perpendicular string patterns. Now it's rare to find a new RB racquet that in not a Fan Pattern. That's probably why they re-branded their machines to Prince NEOS, and they include floating clamps with the NEOS 1000. Why sell a machine that you can't string your own brand of rackets on?

glide bar clamps lock down with only one lever/switch vs. 2 with a swivel, although i believe some of the super swanky machines have single action swivel clamps also. someone else would have to chime in.

Dual Action clamps are like the Prince NEO 1000 Clamps. Two actions happening at the same time. Single action is like every other swivle clamp machine, where you need to clamp the string then lock the base.

Dual Action clamps are like the Prince NEO 1000 Clamps. Two actions happening at the same time. Single action is like every other swivle clamp machine, where you need to clamp the string then lock the base.

Neither are Godd for fan patterns as both are fixed (glide bars are perpendicular and flying flames always clamp with a fixed spread) and the distance between fan strings is not at the same angle or width apart..

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Irvin, Stringway makes a glide bar clamp that also swivels. Best of both worlds and you dont have to lock it down. But I am sure you knew that!

to be honest, i think fan pattern rackets are few and far between (although I'm sure there are some places....).

as such, i wouldn't buy a machine based on that unless you KNOW you are gonna be stringing them alot.

nonetheless, I'd still get swivel bases. but there is something to be said for glide bar clamps!!!

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If you ever plan to do any ATW patterns you may be doing a clamp dance if you have glidebars. If you have long glide bars that span the width of the racket a 2 piece 50/50 is easier. Single action glide bar clamps are faster.

If you ever plan to do any ATW patterns you may be doing a clamp dance if you have glidebars. If you have long glide bars that span the width of the racket a 2 piece 50/50 is easier. Single action glide bar clamps are faster.

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No I prefer to do 2 piece or 50/50 rather than 1 piece.

Other than having to use a floating clamp for fan pattern is there any drawback for using glide bars?

Sorry I did not address the second part of your question. Glide bar clamps do not contact the full surface of the glide bar. Inside the clamp where it rides on the bar is a small bushing built into the clamp. Constant use will cause metal to wear. If I were going to purchase a glide bar machine (I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them) it would not be a used machine nor would it be one of the lower quality machines no matter how good they appear to be at first.

For a one piece 50/50 you center a set of strings where the mains start and string all the mains. No matter where the mains end (head or throat) you use one side to string the top half of the crosses from the center up and the other side to string the bottom half from the center down.

Try that on a Prince O Port racket and you will find out real quick it will not work.

For a one piece 50/50 you center a set of strings where the mains start and string all the mains. No matter where the mains end (head or throat) you use one side to string the top half of the crosses from the center up and the other side to string the bottom half from the center down.

Try that on a Prince O Port racket and you will find out real quick it will not work.